#Sierra_Club rips overreliance on coal by some electric utilities

The Sierra Club issued a report today that says electric utilities in the Southwest Power Pool have been overusing coal-powered power plants instead of cheaper forms of supply, effectively subsidizing the coal industry.

Among those cited in the report is the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corporation, which has interests in coal-fired plans in Arkansas. The report says this practice costs customers money in higher rates and slows the move to cleaner sources of energy.

An eenews account of the story includes disagreement from the Little Rock-based Southwest Power Pool.